Calm 2 Years

Today's Feature

A series of stories curated to help you live your best calm life

My Kingdom for a Cimbalom

Like many before him, Chester Englander was an accomplished classical musician barely making rent. Trained as a percussionist at the Cleveland Institute of Music, he cobbled together a livelihood the way many fine classical musicians do — giving lessons, doing random commercial work, playing occasional soundtrack sessions, subbing often for symphony players who went on vacation or had a baby or got the flu. He moved where the work was, living in upstate New York, Los Angeles, then back to Cleveland, spending long days and nights also performing for smaller symphonies out in Youngstown, Mansfield, Fort Wayne, Erie, and Wheeling.
All the while, he was flying around the nation at his own expense, auditioning for scant vacancies at major philh

Can Music Really Help Us Relax?

Many believe strongly that music can actually heal our mind, body and soul. Whether or not you take this view, there’s no denying that music has a powerful ability to shape our environment. This story explores how.

The Other Piano Man

Few pianist-composers can list Peanuts, The Doors, Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar and the Velveteen Rabbit as influences, styles and projects that have inspired their music. In fact, his unique collection of influences put self-described “folk piano” player George Winston in a category all by himself.